The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1887-12-14
Some Facts About Diphtheria.


Medicine" that diphtheria is spe'.itic
infectious and contagious disease. OF its
contagion there may be no doubt, and
I the contagious element is liable 10 be di-
rectly communicated by the patient. 1t
( also clings 70 solid clothing and in this
wav is comm nicsted after long time.
There is hardly any disease which clings
80 teRaciously To dwellings and furniture.
Z II may also be transported by air great
distance. can give personally no ex-
ample of its being carried by visitors or
I by the attending physician, but it is said
to have occcured however Naturally
/ the softer character of the tissues Of chill
siren renders them more susceptible TO
infection, and the activity Of their lynn
/ phatic system more liable to severe forms
of the disease"
Many tragic cases are recorded Of in
lection by direct contact from the throat,
or from the opening in she winA-pip
ltracheotomy) by the surgeon, and one
of the saddest cases is that Of the much
lamented DR. Carl Otto Weber. of New
York, sho recently died from diphtheria
contracted from sucking wound to save
a child A case is related of surgeon
who while attending a diphtheritic child
had some secretion thrown in his face.
Twelve hours after his right eye was in
famed and painful; the affection proved
diphtheritic and the recovery was com
pleted after weeks of suffering The
period of incumbation is from to Is
DAYS.
DIR. Flint, of New York, says the dis
ease be communicated, and many exam
piles are recorded where persons become
affected after having been exposed to the
disease. Prof Bartholom, of Jefferson
college, says diphtheria is an acute,
specific, contagious disease. Diphtheria
there can be communicated by contagiOn,
infection and by incubation through an
organism DR.. Richard Quoin, of Lon
don, saws il is a specific, contagious dis
ease DIR. Lewis Smith, of New York,
SAYS it is always constitutional disease
from the start. and he believes il to be
contagious DIR. jacob. who perhaps
has given the disease more thought than
any other person in this country, claims
that it can be communicated, and advises
the removal OF the patient to the upper
story TO prevent the others from tax
ing it. He says one important axiom
must be borne in mind-namely, that
prevention is easier than cure Moving
the healthy members Of the family be-
yond the danger of infection il not
| enough. There are in addition certain
very important prophYlactic measures to
be observed. The mouth and throat
should be frequently examined by an in
telligent physician and kept in heal
thy condition nasal and pharyneeal ca
tarrhs cured mp enlarged tonsis remov-
ed. Prevention is not only the business Of
the physician, but just as much that Of
the individual and the communicative
town. the county and the state Bed
clothing and linen, should be changed
often, rooms aired, kissing forbidden.
The well, or apparently well, children Of
a family that has diphtheria at home
must not 90 to school or church In times
of an epidemic every public place, thea
ter, ballroom, church and school should
be disinfected, as much so as ifsmall pox
existed.
USE OF DfsINFECTANTs.
In the sick room.-The clothing. towels,
bea linen, &e., should, on removal from
the patient and before they are taken
from the room. be placed IN a pail Of
boiling hot zinc solution, made of sui
phate of zinc and common salt, Dissolved
togetherin water in the proportion of four
ounces sulphate and two ounces salt tn
the gallon. All discharges should be re-
ceived in vessels containing copperas So
lution-cOpperas Dissolved in water in the
portion of one and half pounds to the
gallon. Fumigation with sulphur (brim-
stone is the only practical method for
disinfecting the house. Close the room
as tightly as possible; place the sulphur
iron pans supported upon bricks placed
in wash-tubs containing little water
set it on fire by hot Goals or with the aid
of spoonf of alcohol, and allow the
room TO remain closed for twenty-four
hours. At least two pounds of sulphur
should be used for a room ten feet square.
II Is best TO burn all articles which
have been in contact with the patient
Articles too valuable to be destroyed
should be tire ,ted as follows: cotton, lin
en-. flannel, blankets, &c, should be boil
for at least haitian hour, piece by piece.
in the zine solution. Heavy woolen
clothing, silk, furs, &c, should be hung
IN the room during fnmigation, then
hung in the open air, beaten and shaken
Pillows, mattresses, upholstered furniture,
&c, should be cut open and the contents
spread out and fumigated. Carpets are
best funigated on the floor. but they
should after ward be removed to the open
air and beaten.
The dead body should be thoroughly
washed with a zinc solution Of double
strength and should then be wrapped in
a sheet wet with the zine solution and
buried at once in metallic, metal-lined
or air tight coffin
The Minister'S Old Thorough